Hello everyone; I'm new to the forum and to reloading. I currently have on hand IMR-700X powder, Hornady 225gr. FTX bullets I want to load strictly for target shooting but cannot find load data for this combination in 44 spec. Also these loads will be fired from a r92 Rossi lever action rifle not a revolver. Any advice/help would be appreciated.

Cartridge Loads - Hodgdon Reloading Data Center - data.hodgdon.com

Nothing on the 225 grn FTX but a 220 check it out , might be a good starting point

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JIM
NRA Pistol Instr

DO NOT load jacketed bullets in light loads, which is all you can do with 700x in a .44 special, you'll get one stuck in the barrel.

I'm not familiar with that bullet, but it looks like it's intended for magnum velocities.


The .44 special is pretty much a cast bullet round.

I've never used it in the .44 special but there are probably lot's of good loads for 700x, just get you some lead bullets. I'd see what kinda bullets the CAS crowd are shooting in their .44 lever guns. Commercial casters should have some designated for that type of shooting, then find 700x load data for similar weight cast bullets.

Hornaday's manual #9 DOES NOT show any loads for the FTX bullet for 44 Spl. They show no loads for 700X for any jacketed bullet. I would not try to load that bullet without talking to Hornady. If you look at the 44 Mag data you'll see that they recommend shortening the mag case to use the 225 FTX. I'd say this is case of don't do it and find a different bullet.

Life's a beach ain't it?

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speer #10 manual does not list 700x for any jacketed bullets for 44 spl except 240gr. In 240 gr HP,SP, or MagSP they list 700x 4.1gr @625 and 4.6gr @ 715 shot in a charter arms bulldog 4" barreled gun. So, yes at least speer (older book) lists 44 special and jacketed bullets but not with 700x except as listed above.

Thanks for all the input, I believe the safest thing to do for now is use lead bullets for special loads and save the Hornady FTX's for the Magnum loads. Happy Shooting!

First off, welcome to the Forum.

I respectfully disagree with the above post except for the last paragraph.

I have been reloading for 40 years now and own 60 reloading manuals plus regularly refer to data published by the manufacturers on their internet sites.

You can load any jacketed bullet as slow as 700 fps safely in any handgun and you can apply any 220 grain data to a 225 grain bullet.

However, if you want a plinking and target load then yes, a cast bullet is the way to go. The 200 and 240 grain round-nose flatpoint styles feed the best in rifles, and especially in the M92 clones as they can be tempermental.

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In general your post is correct but the OP was for the 225 gr Hornady FTX bullet. That bullet has a longer ogive than other jacketed handgun bullets.

A quick reference to Hornady's book shows no loads for the FTX bullet in 44 Spl. While it may be safe to do what you post Hornady doesn't seem to think so. I'll go with the bullet manufacturer every time.

Check Hornady's loads for the 225 FTX bullet in 44 mag and I think you'll see they recommend shortening the mag brass below the standard trim to length. To me that shows that loading the FTX bullet is not comparable to the short ogive jacketed bullets we are all used to.

The OP was also looking for loads using 700X and Hornady doesn't show many in 44 Spl. for jacketed bullets.

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I agree with you, lead bullets are the way to go for plinking ammo. Besides, those FTX bullets are way too expensive to be killing paper with. Save those FTX bullets for hotter ammo meant for killing critters especially from a levergun. The pointy bullet will add about 25 yards or so to the effective range of your round from a rifle.

Is your Rossi a real 44 Special or is it a 44 Magnum? If it's a 44 Magnum you can make some extremely effective rounds with the FTX bullet.

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I've loaded Hornady's 225gr. FTX in 45AR, 45 Colt, 454 Casull & the 300gr. FTX in the 500 S&W. I feel it's more the issue with the cartridge's final OAL, rather than the ogive, for revolvers. The FTX is more like a spire than a spitzer shape. Forward of the cannelure it curves inward quickly, like a spire point. If your cylinder is long enough, for me, that has been the only area of concern using the FTX, not whether the throat interferred with the assembled round.

If you notice in Hornady's manual, their 500 S&W FTX cartridge is less than the max COL for the 500 (OAL 2.195" vs max COL 2.250"). In their 44 Mag & 45 Colt, the FTX cartridge OAL is longer (1.645") than the max. COL (1.600"), even with the case trimmed down to their recommendation. In my guns, the cylinder was long enough & I didn't need to trim them (which also reduces case capacity). In the 45, the 225gr. FTX bullet's overal length (BOL) is quit a bit longer than a 250gr XTP (.804" vs .665") but the FTX is longer from the cannelure to the base than the XTP (.390" vs .365") & uses more case capacity. I've never shot the 44 FTX & don't have any dimensions on it, but I suspect it's proportional for size.

Of course, each gun's situation will differ, so a quick test round should answer that.

Yes, my Rossi is a true Magnum, which of course will also shoot specials. You have a formula you use for the FTX?

They don't list 700X with the FTX. If that's the only powder you have you'll need to extrapolate using related published data, for your target loads.